Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Wärtsilä has signed a collaboration agreement with Norway's Simon Møkster Shipping to carry out a feasibility study on utilising ammonia as the main fuel in dual-fuel engines where LNG is the alternative fuel.

The aim of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility of converting vessels for dual ammonia–LNG operation, and that it can be carried out safely and efficiently.

Testing is due to be carried out on the Stril Pioneer — an offshore supply vessel (OSV) currently operating with Wärtsilä 32DF dual-fuel engines using LNG as the primary fuel.

Møkster has been one of the pioneers in the use of LNG as a marine fuel, adding the Stril Pioneer to its fleet back in 2003. By using a blend of ammonia and LNG, emissions of CO2 from the combustion process would be considerably reduced.

Commenting on the deal, Cato Esperø, Head of Sales Norway, Wärtsilä, said: "Decarbonisation is central to the future of shipping, and Wärtsilä is totally committed to helping our customers achieve this goal. This collaboration agreement represents further evidence of this commitment. We are leading the way towards the adoption of alternative cleaner future marine fuels through extensive testing and research, and we see ammonia as an extremely promising option."

Anne Jorunn Møkster, owner and CEO of Simon Møkster, remarked: "We are excited to join Wärtsilä in this project. We see this as a step towards meeting our targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and our ambition is to cut our fleet's CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2030. By 2050 we expect to reach net-zero carbon emissions."

Headquartered in Stavanger, Norway, Simon Møkster Shipping is a supplier of offshore support vessels and currently has a fleet of 17 ships. It is fully owned by the Møkster family.